[lowrydr310]

I'm in the middle of an easy job replacing serpentine belt and pulleys and tensioner along with OFHG and oil cooler gasket. I got the oil filter housing gasket replaced and reinstalled and sure as shit I dropped one of nuts securing the intake manifold and cannot find it. No worries, I'm going to the dealer tomorrow to get a new one, or the hardware store for something similar that works.

Then after reinstalling the oil filter housing with a new gasket, I removed the oil cooler thermostat assembly to replace that gasket since that seemed to be the one that was leaking. Ok, there's a strange 12mm head bolt on the rightmost side that's not an E10 torx like it's supposed to be, and I can remove it by hand. I got it cleaned up with the new gasket and went to reinstall and the threads for that bolt are stripped! I checked the other three bolt holes and they're not smooth. I'm going to try to clean up the other two with a tap, but now I have to find three new bolts and install a helicoil to repair that stripped thread for the rightmost bolt.

[M-technik-3]

Installed M3 front thrust arms and control arms as I had a bad busing in passenger control arm starting to thunk. Nice to have tightened front end back. Next is the rear, doing that on the lift vs the driveway. Need to get the E36 completed and off the MaxJack for use.

[Hoody007]

Getting ceramic window tint installed, using the same guy the Porsche dealer uses. Absolute steal at just $190.
I actually don’t care for tint personally, but it’s only getting hotter and the black leather interior is borderline uninhabitable without it in the summer.

[Hoody007]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Front struts were leaking. Found these new locally.

Are those air struts?!

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Are those air struts?!

Yep. Brand new airlift with endlinks and camber plates listed for $250

[RealJ22]

Started to wetsand after 2 years of having it painted. Figured I would tackle the “worst” panel first.

Can’t wait for the results…. Glass…


upload image to url

[RealJ22]

Well, the results from one panel and one pass of the buffer…

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

Getting ceramic window tint installed, using the same guy the Porsche dealer uses. Absolute steal at just $190.
I actually don’t care for tint personally, but it’s only getting hotter and the black leather interior is borderline uninhabitable without it in the summer.

Yeah, great deal for any tint, especially ceramic! You can get clear ceramic which keeps out a lot of the UV and IR radiation coming through. Also consider getting clear on the windshield while you're there... that lets in a LOT of heat. I need to get mine all done and am getting quotes around $700 including the windshield, so $190 is a take my money price!

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I cleared some codes and went for a drive to see if they returned. Decided to take the furball, who decided getting car sick and vomiting on the back seat was the way to thank me.
Spent the morning cleaning up that mess and decontaminating the biohazard site that was my rear seat.
TMI?

oh strada -
this is not good.

what flavor of furball? big? little?

did the codes clear??

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Diff is assembled, filled, and mostly installed. Just need to torque axle and driveshaft bolts down, and put the rear subframe brace back on (yay wagon).

The only quirk with putting the 4-bolt flange (328i) onto a diff that came with the 3-bolt flange (330i) was having to grind the stub off the pinion. Also, the MFactory bearing & seal kit comes with roller bearings, not ball bearings like factory. They shimmed-put more or less the same, but something to be aware of.

Excited to drive it, and hoping I didn’t miss anything!

Good job!

Although I may have missed the part that the chicken played in the job. ;-)

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I cleared some codes and went for a drive to see if they returned. Decided to take the furball, who decided getting car sick and vomiting on the back seat was the way to thank me.
Spent the morning cleaning up that mess and decontaminating the biohazard site that was my rear seat.
TMI?

Fur? Biohazard?

I pulled up my rear seat yesterday to replace the leaky fuel pressure regulator. Job went fine, even though it definitely required a helper to hold the janky Autozone rental tool on the lock rings while I struggled to twist off the seriously over-tightened and partially rusty things.

The upside to the biohazard that was under MY seat is that it contained several dollars worth of change...which of course made the job that much less expensive.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by jsunma

Fur? Biohazard?

I pulled up my rear seat yesterday to replace the leaky fuel pressure regulator. Job went fine, even though it definitely required a helper to hold the janky Autozone rental tool on the lock rings while I struggled to twist off the seriously over-tightened and partially rusty things.

The upside to the biohazard that was under MY seat is that it contained several dollars worth of change...which of course made the job that much less expensive.

I only cleared $.15, so unfortunately didn't come out ahead other than a cleaning!

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

oh strada -
this is not good.

what flavor of furball? big? little?

did the codes clear??

It was pretty grimy back there before the event, so good motivation!

Everything cleared... I had a MAF code and I forget the other, I sure from when I put on my Euro intake and left the sensor unplugged. I figured it was fine, but wanted to make sure.

Said furball:

[E93Seattle (Racerbruce)]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I only cleared $.15, so unfortunately didn't come out ahead other than a cleaning!



It was pretty grimy back there before the event, so good motivation!

Everything cleared... I had a MAF code and I forget the other, I sure from when I put on my Euro intake and left the sensor unplugged. I figured it was fine, but wanted to make sure.

Said furball:

this is a lean-mean-killing-machine.
my better half loved the pic and asks if it is a chihuahua/west highland terrier mix.

our miscreant has on a few occasions, graced the backseat of our 21 x3 with her vomit:

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by E93Seattle (Racerbruce)

this is a lean-mean-killing-machine.
my better half loved the pic and asks if it is a chihuahua/west highland terrier mix.

our miscreant has on a few occasions, graced the backseat of our 21 x3 with her vomit:

Attachment 3217748

Supposedly Maltese/Terrier - Definitely a multi-terror!

Usually a better traveler!

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yeah, great deal for any tint, especially ceramic! You can get clear ceramic which keeps out a lot of the UV and IR radiation coming through. Also consider getting clear on the windshield while you're there... that lets in a LOT of heat. I need to get mine all done and am getting quotes around $700 including the windshield, so $190 is a take my money price!

I got my 330i tinted two years ago with Xpel Prime XR ceramic, everything but the windshield, and it's awesome especially in summer. Does an excellent job blocking heat. If you don't mind driving an hour (assuming you're in Redlands as your name suggests) I can recommend an excellent tint shop that I was referred by someone here on bimmerpost. I think I paid around $350 which is great for a quality ceramic tint. A friend got his F30 tinted there last month and it was around $400. Once I get through some basic maintenance I'm going to get my 335i tinted there.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

I got my 330i tinted two years ago with Xpel Prime XR ceramic, everything but the windshield, and it's awesome especially in summer. Does an excellent job blocking heat. If you don't mind driving an hour (assuming you're in Redlands as your name suggests) I can recommend an excellent tint shop that I was referred by someone here on bimmerpost. I think I paid around $350 which is great for a quality ceramic tint. A friend got his F30 tinted there last month and it was around $400. Once I get through some basic maintenance I'm going to get my 335i tinted there.

Yes, I can drive an hour... that's a SoCal requirement!!!
My local shop is great, but they're the only quality option in town. So it's five windows for $500 + $200 for windshield.

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yes, I can drive an hour... that's a SoCal requirement!!!
My local shop is great, but they're the only quality option in town. So it's five windows for $500 + $200 for windshield.

Luckily we have windshield insurance because people go through them like crazy here. My guy offers free tint with insurance glass change. I even got an OEM blue glass with 50%

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Luckily we have windshield insurance because people go through them like crazy here. My guy offers free tint with insurance glass change. I even got an OEM blue glass with 50%

I run a $1,000 deductible to help keep the rates down, so no luck there.
My wife had to get new glass for the 5er this last week in PHX when it got a crack on the drive out.
It cost us $420 for Fuyao glass installed, can't complain too much.

FYI as I see you are in AZ part time, the installer was Scottsdale Auto Glass, highly recommended!

[colorado.e9x]

Question for everyone- what are your thoughts on ebay headlights? I'm thinking of installing my old ones on the blue car while I rebuild the stocks

[jwalther]

I've been very happy with my Depo lights.

[Captain Buumer]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Question for everyone- what are your thoughts on ebay headlights? I'm thinking of installing my old ones on the blue car while I rebuild the stocks

I only put Hella products - they are guaranteed to have good fitment/build quality/lightning output.
I've had only bad experience with the cheaper brands. Mostly they have problems with fitment & break easily.
Generally Ebay ones have fancy design but worse lightning output.

Also, did subwoofer 10" JL 10V3 with some random noname cover that protects it fully. Plenty of bass and blends in nicely.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by jsunma

Good job!

Although I may have missed the part that the chicken played in the job. ;-)

Home mechanics have to eat, right?